CEtiTElIAL  GATHERIII 


OF   THE 


Skjwkfd    3^air\ilj 


WITH 


ADDRESS 


Br 


GEORGE    W.    HAYWARD, 


AND 


POEM.  BY  ALMIRA  L.  HAYWARD. 


Easton,  August  14th,  1878 


TAUNTON,  MASS. : 

JOHN    S.    SAMPSON,    PRINTER. 

1879.       . 


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CENTENNIAL  GATHERIf 


OF   THE 


Haywkfd    FaiT\ily 


WITH 


ADDRESS 


Br 


GEORGE    W.    HAYWARD, 


/// 


AlS^D 


POEM,  BY     ALMIRA    L.  HAYWARD. 


Easton,  August  14th,  1878. 


TAlJNTON,  MASS.: 

JOHN    S.    SA.MPSO.V,    PltlXTER. 

1871*. 


?ljkj<  of  i^e  Town  of  Casion 

YvUhthe  placesof  the  hoixses  and 
Viq^vwa^s  thereon 


3tny 


\y).  cvbonV  ri 


Siin-eijor. 


'-^  "•-. 


Centennial  Gathering. 


Thk  Centennial  Anniversary  of  the  building  of  the  Hayward 
Family  Mansion  was  observed  on  the  14th  of  August,  1878,  hj  a 
grand  gathering  on  the  grounds  of  Capt.  George  Washington 
Hayward,  in  the  southerly  part  of  Easton,  Mass. 

Capt.  Hayward,  then  in  his  '72d  year,  had  extended  invitations 
to  his  neighbors  and  to  the  numerous  members  of  the  family 
I'esiding  in  various  states  and  neighboring'  towns,  making  a 
company  of  some  700  or  800  who  responded  by  their  presence  on 
this  occasion,  all  his  children  and  grand  children  being  present, 
and  tlie  day  being  exceedingly  fine. 

The  exercises  were  held  in  the  grove  near  the  ancient  home- 
stead of  1778,  and  were  opened  by  singing  the  following  hymn, 
written  for  the  occasion  by  Miss  Almira  L.  Hayward  of  Provi- 
dence, R.  I. 

Our  father's  God !  to  whom  appears 
Less  than  a  day  these  hundred  years, 
Witli  grateful  hearts  to  tliee  we  pay 
United  thanks  this  festal  da3'. 

To  iieiglits  of  joy,  througli  shades  of  fear. 
O'er  floods  of  grief,  still  year  by  year 
Thy  hand  hath  led  us  every  one. 
Till  we  may  count  a  century  done. 

The  coining  years  are  all  with  thee, 
If  few  or  many  they  shall  be. 
Oh!  grant  thy  blessing.  Lord,  we  i>ray 
To  lead  us  nearer  thee  each  day. 


4  CENTENNIAL   GATHERING. 

When  all  our  eartlilj'  years  are  told, 
And  we  the  face  of  Death  behold, 
May  we  receive  with  glad  content 
The  summons  which  our  God  has  sent. 

In  those  fair  mansions  built  abovp. 
Eternal  rest,  Joy,  peace  and  love. 
Shall  be  henceforth  the  rich  reward 
Of  those  who  lived  for  Christ  the  Lord. 

Dr.  J.  W.  Hayward  of  Tannton  then  delivered  the  following 

*    ADDRESS    OF    WELCOME. 

Relatives  and  Friends,  in  behalf  of  my  parents,  welcome !  In 
behalf  of  ourselves,  I  desire  to  thank  you  for  the  honor  you  have 
done  them.  There  are  more  present  than  I  anticipated  seeing. 
The  old  house,  capacious  as  it  is,  is  not  big  enough  to  take  you 
all  in  at  once,  but  the  hearts  of  the  two  who  live  there,  are. 
Many  of  you  have  come  from  long  distances,  at  a  sacrifice  of 
time  and  means;  to  you  especially,  I  wish  to  say  that  we  ap])re- 
ciate  the  effort  you  have  made.  This  is  oar  gala  day,  in  memo- 
riam  of  a  day  on  which  the  strong  men  of  the  neighborhood 
gathered  together  to  make  glad  the  heart  of  my  grandfather — 
to  raise  his  house  and  drink  his  punch.  \  hundred  years  have 
passed  since  then,  a  century  has  left  its  printed  page — which  to- 
day we  may  read.  The  stout  young  men  are  gone.  The  grand- 
father whose  jest  and  stories  ma<le  that  day  men-y,  now  sleeps 
in  yonder  burial  place.  The  trees  he  planted  have  long  since 
been  cut  down,  and  made  into  dwellings  for  others.  The  trees 
which  my  father's  hand  has  trained,  have  iviatured,  and  now 
stand  scatteiing  where  the  woodman's  axe  and  the  tornado  liave 
spiired  them,  while  the  little  trees,  that  I  saw  sprout,  are  shelter- 
ing us  to-day.  Thus  has  the  ruthless  hand  of  time  made  its 
record.  Eveiything  which  had  life,  has  passed,  or  is  fust  i):»ssing 
away.  But  the  old  house  remains  and  to-day  swings  wide  its 
iloors  to  welcome  you. 

After  having  ])artaken  of  the  bountiful  collation  which  had 
I>een  pi'(»vide(l,  the  company  listened  to  the  following  historical 
address. 


CENTENNIAL   GATIIEKING. 


ADDRESS. 

BY    CAPT.    GEO.    W.    HAYWAlll). 

As  centennial  celebrations  are  now  quite  common,  and  this 
being  the  centennial  anniversary  of  the  building  of  the  house  in 
which  I  live,  and  thinking  that  I  can  give  some  information  re- 
specting the  house,  and  also  res])ecting  that  branch  of  the 
llayward  family  to  which  1  belong,  that  may  be  interesting  to 
relatives  and  frioids,  I  shall  endeavor  to  do  so  according  to  the 
best  information  I  have  been  able  to  obtain. 

The  information  which  I  have  respecting  the  early  history  of 
the  llayward  family,  I  obtained  from  Judgo  Elijah  llayward  of 
jMcConnelsville,  Ohio,  (whose  pai)ers  are  now  in  possession  of 
Kllis  Ames,  Esq.  of  South  ('anton),  and  from  Mitchell's  History 
of  Bridgewater. 

Thomas  Haywaiu)  and  his  wife  Susanna  were  born  in  England; 
were  last  there  at  Aylsford  in  the  county  of  Kent;  came  over  in 
the  ship  Ileixiules  of  200  tons,  John  Weatlierby,  master,  with  5 
of  their  children,  in  the  early  part  of  the  summer  of  1685.  He 
first  settled  in  Dnxbury,  and  was  one  of  the  original  proprietors, 
and  one  of  the  earliest  and  eldest  of  the  settlei*s  of  Bridgewater. 
His  will  is  dated  in  1678,  and  he  died  in  1681,  his  wife  not  living 
at  the  date  of  his  will.  His  children  were  Thomas,  Nathaniel, 
John,  Joseph  and  Elisha,  born  in  England,  and  who  came  over 
with  their  father  in  1635  ;  Mary  and  Martha,  probably  born  in 
Duxl)nry.  Mary  married  Elnsign  Edwanl  iMitchcl  ;  JMartha 
married  her  cousin  John  Hawai-*],  (Hayward).  ]\Iit<-he]l,  in  his 
liistoiw  of  Bridgewater,  says  that  John  always  wrote  his  name 
Ilaward  and  so  did  all  his  descendaiits  until  after  1700,  but  for 
the  last  century  it  has  been  invariably  wi'itten  Ilowaixl.  He 
7ilso  says  that  the  two  names  Hayward  and  Hawai'd  were  uni- 
forndy  pi-<)iiounced  alike  Howard,  and  that  they  were  ])erlia])s 
the  same  originally  and  both  Hayward,  but  in  wilting,  John 
omitted   the  y. 

Judge  llayward  said  tliei'ewere  •'!  brotlicrs  that  canie  over 
together,  and    that    Jolm    sciiioi-   remained    in    PI\'mouth    eoloiiy 


6  CENTEl^flS^IAL   GATHERING. 

only  a  short  time,  and  then  went  to  New  Jersey,  but  his  son 
John  stayed  and  married  his  cousin,  daughter  of  Thomas 
Hayward. 

I  am  not  certain  what  Judge  Hayward  said  about  the  other 
brother. 

Thomas  Esq.  (son  of  Thomas  Ist),  was  also  one  of  the  first 
settlers  of  Bridgewater,  and  by  far  the  most  honored  and  distin- 
guished man  in  the  place  ;  was  one  of  the  first  military  officrers  ; 
was  a  magistrate,  and  one  of  the  Governor's  assistants,  and 
Justice  of  the  Court  of  Common  Pleas  and  Sessions,  1692.  His 
death  was  caused  by  a  fall  from  his  horse,  August  15,  1698.  He 
left  a  widow,  Sarah,  but  no  children. 

Nathaniel,  (son  of  Thomas  1st),  married  Hannah,  daughter  of 
Deacon  John  Willis,  had  6  sons  and  1  daughter. 

John,  (son  of  Thomas  1st),  married  Sarah,  daughter  of  Exper- 
ience Mitchell  and  had  5  sons  and  5  daughters. 

Experience  Mitchell  was  one  of  the  forefathers,  (a  name 
usually  applied  to  those  who  came  over  in  the  first  three  ships), 
and  came  over  in  the  third  ship,  the  Ann,  in  1623. 

Deacon  Joseph,  (son  of  Thomas  1st),  married,  first,  Alice, 
daughter  of  Elder  William  Brett ;  had  a  second  wife,  name  not 
known  ;  married,  third,  Hannah,  daughter  of  Experience  Mit- 
chell, about  1682.  His  children  were  Joseph,  1673;  Alice,  1683; 
Mary,  1685;  Thomas,  1687;  Edward,  July  24th,  1689;  Hannah, 
1691;  Susanna,  1695;  Peter,  1699;  Abigail,  1702.  Mary  married 
Thomas  Ames,  (son  of  John  Ames  and  great  grandfather  of 
Oliver  Ames  of  P^aston).  Hannah  married  Captain  Ebenezer 
Byram,  1714.  Capt.  Byram  with  all  his  children  went  to  Morris 
County,  New  Jersey,  about  1744.  Abigail  married  Zachariah 
Snell,  (son  of  Josiah),  1731;  he  was  one  of  the  early  settlers  in 
North  l>ridgewater.  She  lived  to  a  great  age,  between  90  and 
100;  one  of  her  o;randdau<>-hters  married  Dr.  Peter  Brvant  and 
was  mother  of  Wm.  Cullen  Bryant,  the  poet.  Many  of  the 
Snclls,  now  living  in  Brockton,  are  her  descendants. 

Emsha,  (son  of  Thomas  1st),  Avas  never  married  ;  he  lived  in 
East  Bridgewater,  at  Jo])])a,  and  his  l)rother-in-law,  Edward 
Mitchell,  lived  with  him,  and  had  most  of  his  estate. 

JosHi'n,   (son    of   Deacon   .lose))!!,)   married   Sarah    Crossman, 


CENTENiSriAL   GATHERIl^G.  7 

1703;  their  children  were  3  sons  and  5  daughters.  I  liave  no 
knowledge  of  this  family  or  any  of  their  descendants. 

THOJtAS,  (son  of  Deacon  Joseph),  niarri(^d  Bt'thiah  Waldo  and 
lived  where  Dr.  Reed  lived  in  West  Biidgewater;  their  children 
were  2  sons  and  4  daughters.  Many  of  the  llaywards  in  Brock- 
ton are  descendants  of  Thomas. 

Peter,  (son  of  Deacon  Joseph),  married  Abigail  Williams  of 
Taunton,  1732;  their  children  were  Jonathan,  1734;  Hannah? 
1748.  Hannah  married  Samuel  Kinsley.  Jonathan  married 
Mary,  daughter  of  ]Majoi-  Isaac  Johnson,  1760;  their  children 
Avere  Abigail,  Jonathan,  Jerahmeel,  Polly,  Hannah,  Martin, 
Barzilai,  Daniel  and  Betsey,  twins.  Jonathan  and  Jerahmeel 
lived  in  Easton,  northerly  from  Elaston  furnace.  Polly  mari'ied 
John  Tilden,  1796;  Martin  married  Susanna,  daughter  of  Daniel 
Manley,  1808,  and  lived  near  where  his  fatlier  and  grandfather 
lived. 

Barzilai  graduated  at  Brown  University,  Providence,  in  1807. 
He  was  a  physician  and  lived  in  Northampton  and  then  in 
Munson,  where  he  died  and  left  a  family.  Daniel  and  Nathaniel 
were  sons  of  Jerahmeel,  and  were  inventors  of  [»i'eparing  India 
rubber  for  making  over  shoes  and  V)oots.  Charles,  who  lives 
where   his  father  lived,  and  Albert,  are  also   sons   of   Jeralimeel. 

By  the  records  of  the  proprietors  of  Taunton  North  Purchase, 
it  appears  that  Joseph  Hayward  and  his  brother-in-law,  Edward 
Mitchell  of  Bridgewater,  laid  out  a  lot  of  land  in  said  North 
Purchase,  containing  101  acres,  Sept.  12,  lGy7;  there  are  now 
six  houses  on  this  lot;  and  in  1701  they  laid  out  two  other  lots, 
one  on  the  southerlj^  and  the  other  on  the  easterly  side  of  the 
first  lot.  In  the  Bristol  County  Land  Hecords,  Book  No.  12, 
page  536,  there  is  recorded  a  deed  from  Joseph  Hayward  of 
Bridgewater  to  Edward  Hayward  of  Taunton  North  Puix-hase, 
(now  Easton),  conveying  about  131  acres  of  land,  which  lieth  in 
a  body  together,  in  and  about  the  neck  of  land  that  lieth  between 
the  little  cedar  sw^amp  on  the  easterly,  a  little  brook  and  cran- 
berry meadow  brook  on  the  northerly  and  westei-jy,  and  the 
great  swamp  on  the  southerly  side.  Peference  to  the  ])ro])riet()«s 
records  for  the  bounds  thereof,  dated  Nov.   s,  1717.      All  that 


CENTEXXIAL   GATIIEKINO. 


provonts  this  from  being  an  island  is  the  ridge  of  land  near  the 
cemetery,  over  which  the  road  passes. 

Edward  Haywakd,  (son  of  Deacon  Joseph),  settled  in  Taun- 
ton North  Purchase,  now  Easton,  as  early  as  1714.  In  1715  he 
married  Hannah,  daughter  of  Benjamin  Kinsley,  (who  lived 
aV)out  \  mile  northerly  from  where  the  road  from  here  to  Bridge- 
water  crosses  the  turnpike). 

Their  children  were  Hannah,  July  15,  1710;  Edward,  Aju'il 
18,  1718,  died  April  13,  1730,  aged  21,  wanting  5  days;  Joseph, 
April  27,  1722,  died  June  14,  1740,  aged  18  years;  Matthew,  De- 
cember 10,  1728.  His  wife  died  November  11,  1747.  He  mar- 
ried Keziah  White,  widow  of  P^dward  White  of  West  Bridge- 
water,  October  2G,  1748.  Their  children  were:  Edward,  July 
31,1749;  Keziah,  July  12,1751;  Joseph,  July  17,1753;  Solo- 
mon, August  2,  1755.  He  died  May  21,  1700,  in  the  71st  year  of 
his  age,  and  was  buried  near  where  the  first  meeting  liouse  in 
Easton  stood,  where  his  first  wife  and  two  sons  were  buried. 
He  was  Deacon  of  the  C.'ongregational  Church,  and  was  made 
the  first  Justice  of  tlie  Peace  in  Easton,  in  1737.  He  also  repre- 
sented the  town  in  the  State  Legislature.  His  widow  married 
Deacon  Robert  Handall,  January  9,  17(34.  lie  died  November, 
1783;  she,  September  10,  1802,  in  the  SGth  year  of  her  age.  Her 
maiden  name  was  Hall,  daughter  of  George  and  L\'dia  Hall,  who 
lived  on  the  place  where  Deacon  Caleb  Pratt  lived,  and  grand- 
<biughter  of  Thomas  and  Katherine  Dean  of  Taunton.  Slie  had 
two  brothers,  Isaac  and  Abijah,  who  went  to  Connecticut.  I>y 
her  first  husljand,  Edward  White,  she  had  Huldah,  1739;  Pheba, 
17-11;  Keziah,  1744,  died  October  10,  1749.  Huldah  married 
Col.  Benjamin  Tnppei',  November  18,  1702;  Phebe  niarried  Seth 
Sylvester,  l)Oth  of  whom  Avent  to  Chcstei'field  in  this  State.  Col. 
Tupj)ei'  and  family  went  to  ^larietta,  Ohio,  in  17^8,  ;nid  were 
among  the  first  settlers  of  that  place.  Hannah  Hayward  married 
I)eac()n  James  Dean,  who  lived  where  his  grandson  James  after- 
wards lived.  Their  children  wei-e  Hannah  and  Edwai-d.  Hannah 
iiiai'i-icil  Nclieiiiiali  Howard,  gi'andfathei' of  , Asa  and  Horace  D. 
Howard.  Kdwai-d  was  a  physician,  and  lived  where  Edward  I^. 
Williams  now  lives.  Keziah  Hayward  marrie(l  Elijah  Howard, 
Es(|.,    (son    of    Henry),    ^larcli    31,    17Gs.       Their   cliildren   wei'e 


CENTENNIAL   GATHERING.  9 

Kezial),  Irana,  Phebe,  Patty,  Olive,  Elijah,  Edwin,  and  Eathan. 
He  died  aged  86,  she  in  1836,  aged  85  years. 

Mathew,  Esq.  (son  of  Edward,  Esq.)  married  Anna,  daughter 
of  Lieut.  Joshua  Howard;  their  children  were  Nancy,  Olive, 
Joshua  and  Susan.  His  wife  died  and  he  maiYied  Rebecca 
Lothrop;  their  children  were  Daniel,  Alvin,  Albert  and  Olive. 
Nancy  married  Dr.  Edward  Dean  for  his  second  wife.  The  other 
daughters  died  single.  He  built  the  house  where  Dean  Keith 
lived  and  the  house  where  Deacon  Abijah  Reed  lived.  He  sold 
his  farm  to  Deacon  Heed's  father  and  went  to  Winthrop,  Maine, 
in  1791.  He  was  Town  Clerk  for  many  years  and  was  a  man  of 
mucli  influence  in  town.  He  died  at  an  advanced  age,  I  think 
94  years.     His  sons  all  went  to  Maine. 

Capt.  Edward,  (son  of  Edward,  Esq.,)  married  Susanna, 
daughter  of  Abner  Hayvvard  of  West  Bridgewater,  November 
21,  1771.  Their  children  were:  Susanna,  1773;  Edward,  Nov. 
5,  Hi^S.  He  built  the  house  where  John  Pool  Esq.  lived,  sold 
his  farm  to  Caleb  Dunbar,  and  Dunbar  sold  it  to  Deacon  Samuel 
Pool.  He  moved  to  West  Bridgewater  where  his  grandson 
Edward  Hayward  now  lives,  on  a  farm  he  had  of  his  wife's 
bi'other  (Cai)t.  Abner  Hayward).  His  Avife  died  about  1800, 
and  he  married  Betty  Powers,  1802.  He  died  1825,  in  his  76th 
year.  Susanna  married  Josiah  Copeland  (son  of  Elijah  of 
Histon).     Their  children  were  Horatio,  Hiram,  and  Susan. 

Edward  Jr.  married  Parnell,  daughter  of  James  Howard  of 
West  Bridgewater,  1805.  Their  children  Avere  Eliza,  180G; 
Pilioda,  1808;  Susanna,  1810;  Edward,  1812;  Vesta,  1815.  His 
wife  died  1818;  he  tnai-ried  widow  Sally  Keith,  1820.  Edward 
married  Stella,  daughter  of  Col.  Alanson  White  and  had  one  son 
and  two  dauglitei's,  none  of  whom  are  living;  his  son  died  in  the 
army.  He  is  now  the  ordy  descendant  of  his  gi-andfather  Capt. 
Eihvard  Hayward,  by  the  name  of  Hayward. 

Solomon,  (son  of  Edward  Escj.)  married  Martha,  daughter  of 
Jonathan  l^urr  of  West  Biidgewater,  1780;  their  children  were 
5  sons  and  5  daughters,  (2  sons  and  2  daughters  died  young,) 
Kdward,  Adah,  Patty,  Cai'oline,  Solomon  and  Ivoyal  A.  Edward 
was  a  blacksmith  and  settled  in  New  Lebanon,  Columbia  l\).,  N. 
V.      Adah  married  Jedediah  Willis  and   lived    in   ^Milton.      Car(j- 


10  CENTENNIAL   GATHERING. 

line  married  John  Neal  of  Lytclifiekl,  Maine.  Solomon  went  to 
Gallipolis,  Ohio,  when  15  years  of  age,  and  lived  with  Gen.  Edw. 
Tapper;  learned  the  cabinet  maker's  trade  and  did  a  good  busi- 
ness making  and  selling  furniture  for  many  years,  lie  has  been 
Mayor  of  the'city.  He  is  still  living,  aged  87  years.  He  has 
had  2  wives  and  10  eliildren,  several  of  whom  are  living  near 
him.  His  son  Wm.  ('.  has  a  large  furniture  store  in  (Tallipolis 
and  is  the  only  son  he  has  living.  Royal  went  to  Gallipolis  with 
his  father,  mother,  sister  Patty  and  her  daughter  Maria  in  1821  ; 
he  was  a  tailor  and  worked  at  that  business;  he  married  and  had 
7  children;  only  1  son  and  2  daughters  are  now  living.  His  son 
John  L.  has  a  drug  store  and  is  doing  a  good  business.  His 
daughters  that  are  living  are  married  and  have  large  families. 
He  died  IVIarch  20,  1840,  in  the  88th  year  of  his  age.  Patty's 
daughter,  [Maria  T.  Simmons,  married  Wm.  G.  Sisson;  she  has  2 
sons  and  4  slaughters  living,  all  married  except  her  youngest  son. 
She  lives  with  her  daughter,  Maiia  E.,  wife  of  B.  E.  lUitler,  pro- 
prietor of  the  Kline  House,  Point  Pleasant,  West  Virginia. 
Encle  Solomon's  wife  died  at  Gallipolis,  Sept.  5,  182:^,  aged  02 
years;  he  died  Sept.  29,  18:51,  aged  70  years. 

The  estate  of  Edward  llayward,  Esq.,  containing  484  acres  of 
land  with  the  buildings  thereon,  was  divided  between  his  S  sons, 
Edward,  Joseph  and  Solomon,  in  June,  1772.  It  was  appraised 
at  1028  pounds  (."UIO  dollars).  Edward  receive<l  for  his  share 
1  70  acres,  Jose})h  1.30  acres  with  the  buildings  thereon,  Solomon 
178  acres,  apjtraised  at  £'?.42,  3  s.  4  d.  each.  Edwai'd  l)uilt  the 
house  near  the  railroad,  pi'obably  soon  after,  as  he  was  married 
November  2],  1771.  Solomon  sold  his  shaiv  to  different  persons 
and  first  bought  a  farm  in  Mansfield  and  afterwai'ds  in  [Middlc- 
borough.  He  lost  considerable  of  his  ])roperty  by  the  depi'ccia- 
tion  of  continental  pa])er  money.  He  tendc*"!  the  grist  mill  in 
Easton  when  1  was  a  l)oy.  In  SeptemV)ei-,  1821,  he  with  his 
family  went  to  Gallipolis,  Ohio. 

In  1778  Josej)h  moved  off  the  house  iu  Avhich  his  father  had 
lived  and  set  it  a  little  in  front  of  where  the  hop  kiln  now  stands, 
and  use<l  it  to  stoi'c  his  faiMning  tools  and  other  things  in;  it  was 
blown  down  September  23,  181").  The  house  in  which  I  now 
live  was  built  bv  him  the  same  vear  on  the  site  of  the  old  house. 


CENTENXIAL   GATHERUSTG.  11 

It  is  40  ft.  long,  32  ft.  wide,  two  stories  high,  with  8  ft.  studding; 
the  outside  walls  covered  with  shingles  and  painted  red.  In  1834 
it  was  partly  new  shingled  on  the  walls,  and  new  window  frames 
and  sashes  in  the  lower  story  except  the  West  end,  which  now 
has  the  same  covering  that  it  had  when  first  built.  The  house 
fronts  south;  the  roof  on  the  front  side  has  been  shingled  twice, 
and  the  north  side  three  times.  I  have  heard  father  say  that  he 
paid  the  carpenters  t\vo  shillings  (-33^  cents)  ])er  day  and  board; 
and  that  he  paid  sixty  dollars  for  100  ft.  of  window  glass  of 
which  he  made  12  windows,  24  lights  each,  glass  6x8;  the  other 
windows  were  made  of  diamond  shaped  glass  set  in  lead,  prob- 
abl}^  taken  from  the  old  house,  one  of  which  is  still  remaining, 
the  one  between  the  buttery  and  porch. 

The  old  porch  being  small  it  was  taken  away  in  1810,  and  a 
new  porch  built  (about  10  x  18).  The  house  has  been  painted 
red  three  times,  and  the  trimmings  white  five  or  six  times. 
Blinds  were  put  to  the  windows  in  1858.  The  chimney  near  the 
centre  of  the  house  is  large,  into  which,  enter  flues  from  5  fire 
places  and  2  brick  ovens;  the  fire  place  in  the  Wtcl.en  was  1  or  8 
ft.  broad  with  an  oven  back  of  one  corner  of  it,  in  which  my 
father  smoked  hams.  When  a  child,  T  have  often  sat  in  one 
corner  of  the  fire  place,  in  front  of  the  oven,  when  there  was  a 
fire  in  the  other  corner.  In  1834  there  was  an  iron  fire  place 
set  in  the  kitchen  and  a  new  oven  built  in  front  of  the  old  one 
which  cut  off  all  communication  with  it.  Tlie  house  originally 
contained  9  finishe<l  rooms  and  a  large  chamber  and  attic  uii- 
finished;  in  the  unfinished  chamber  there  have  been  made  one 
large  room,  one  bedroom  and  a  clothes  room,  and  two  bedrooms 
and  two  clothes  rooms  in  the  attic.  An  open  wood  fire  has  ever 
l)een  kept  in  the  sitting  room  Avhen  the  Aveather  was  cold  enough 
to  rec|uire  it.  'i'here  is  an  iron  fire  frame  in  said  room,  cast  from 
a  ])attern  made  by  brother  Ansel,  1)efore  he  went  to  Illinois. 
Many  are  the  travellei's  and  jtedlers  that  have  been  accommo- 
dated in  this  house. 

At  the  time  tlie  house  was  built,  the  road  fi'om  IJi'idgewater 
ended  at  this  j)]ace;  tliere  was  no  road  westerly  from  liere  until 
about    isoo,  when  a  road  was  built  to  the  road  wliich   it  crosses 


12  CE]^TENNIAL   GATHERING. 

nearly  a  mile  from  here;  and  about  15  years  later  was  continued 
by  Easton  Furnace. 

Carriages  were  not  common  in  those  times;  people  generally 
travelled  on  horseback  or  on  foot.  To  go  from  here  to  Easton 
centre,  they  followed  a  cart  path  across  the  North  Island  and 
entered  the  road  about  ten  rods  easterly  of  a  little  brook  near 
where  Henry  Lothrop  now  lives.  I  have  heard  mother  say,  she 
liad  rode  that  way  to  meeting,  behind  father  on  horseback,  and 
carried  a  child  in  her  lap,  and  that  father  carried  another  child 
forward  of  him.  Father  owned  the  second  chaise  that  was 
owned  in  Easton;  Dr.  Edward  Dean,  his  half  sister's  son,  owned 
the  first.  Another  chaise  was  purchased  by  my  father  when  I 
was  a  boy,  which  did  good  service  Avhile  my  parents  lived. 

The  way  they  first  went  to  Taunton  from  here,  was  over  the 
causeway  where  it  now  is  to  the  South  Island,  then  out  nearly 
to  where  the  road  now  runs,  near  Henry  Howard's,  then  along 
between  where  the  road  now  is,  and  the  great  swamp,  not  coming 
to  where  the  road  is  now  travelled,  until  near  a  little  brook  just 
before  coming  id  Winnicunnett  Village. 

There  have  been  20  births  and  9  deaths  in  the  house;  the 
deaths  were  my  two  grandmothers,  aged  85  and  90  years;  my 
father  and  mother,  aged  89  y.,  6  m.,  25  d.,  and  82  y.,  10  m.,  26 
d.;  my  wife's  father  and  mother,  aged  82  and  Yl  years;  one  sister 
in  her  loth  year;  another  sister  aged  7  months  and  a  brother, 
Daniel,  aged  25  years,  10  months.  The  last  death  in  the  house 
was  that  of  my  wife's  father  in  1850. 

The  well  is  where  it  was  dug  by  my  grandfather,  but  it  was 
not  deep  enough  aiul  father  took  up  the  stoning  and  dug  it 
deeper.  I  have  never  known  the  Avater  so  low  in  it  but  that  we 
could  get  a  buckt^t  full  of  water  without  riling  it.  It  is  25  feet 
deep  and  the  water  cold  enough  to  drink,  it  being  at  the  temper- 
ature of  52  deg.  in  the  warmest  days  of  Sumnu'r.  The  water, 
being  hard,  is  not  good  to  wash  with.  There  was  a  well  about 
10  rods  from  the  house  where  they  were  in  the  liabit  of  getting 
water  for  tlie  purpose  of  washing,  when  they  could  not  get  rain 
water.  In  1841?  I  had  a  brick  cistern  made  in  the  cellar  beneath 
the  ])orch,  which  holds  60  l)arrels  of  Avater  and  is  seldom  dry. 

I  have  been  informed  that  the  first  barn  on  the  i)lac»>  stood  on 


CENTENNIAL   GATIIEKING.  13 

M  high  spot  of  land  between  where  the  barn  now  stands  and  a 
small  pond  south-westerly  from  it.  The  second  barn  was  a  few 
rods  north-westerly  from  Edward's  house,  and  was  30  x  45  ft. 
In  1844  I  built  the  barn  now  on  the  place  which  is  36  x  60  ft. 
with  a  cellar  under  the  whole,  and  a  well  20  ft.  deep  in  the  yard. 
It  was  shingled  with  pine  shingles;  being  built  soon  after  they 
commenced  steaming  the  blocks  and  cutting  the  shingles,  I  had 
the  westerly  side  of  the  roof  shingled  ^Yith  cut  shingles  and  the 
easterly  side  with  sawed  shingles,  which  were  intended  to  be 
free  from  sap.  The  sappy  shingles  I  put  on  the  walls.  The 
westerly  side  of  the  roof  was  shingled  again  in  1875;  the  easterly 
side  has  not  yet  been  shingled  but  will  soon  need  it. 

Joseph,  (son  of  Edward,  Esq.)  married  Lydia,  daughter  of 
Elisha  Barrows,  Esq.,  of  Rochester,  January  24,  1781;  children, 
Elizabeth  Smith,  Rotheus,  Lucy,  Lydia  who  died  in  the  15th 
year  of  her  age,  Joseph,  Ansel,  Elisha,  Rowena,  Sophia,  Minerva 
who  lived  but  7  months,  Edward  Tupper,  Daniel  who  died  at 
the  age  of  25  years,  10  months,  Lydia  and  George  Washington — 
7  sons  and  7  daughters.  The  aggregate  height  of  the  7  sons  was 
43  ft.  in  their  shoes.  Rotheus  was  6  ft.  1  in.;  Joseph,  6  ft.  4  in.; 
Ansel,  5  ft.  11  in.;  Elisha,  6  ft.;  Edward,  6  ft.  2  in.;  Daniel,  6 
ft.  7  in.;  Geo.  W.  6  ft.  Mother  thought  her  children  took  their 
height  from  her  father  who  Avas  6  ft.  4  in.  Father  was  not  a 
tall  man,  he  being  only  5  ft.  8  or  9  in.  He  had  a  strong,  sharp 
voice  and  was  somewhat  inclined  to  use  it  when  he  thought 
occasion  required.  He  was  naturally  of  a  cheerful,  social  dispo- 
sition; although  blind  for  the  last  ten  years  of  his  life,  he  ap- 
peared reconciled  to  his  condition,  and  enjoyed  the  society  of 
his  fiiends  and  acquaintances  whenever  they  called  to  see  him. 
He  generally  attended  all  town  and  society  meetings  as  long  as 
he  was  able,  and  occasionally  went  after  he  Avas  blind.  He 
usually  said  but  little  in  those  meetings,  but  when  he  did  speak, 
it  would  generally  be  to  the  j>oiiit,  and  would  sometimes  occasion 
quite  a  laugh.  I  think  it  was  his  endeavor  to  bring  up  his 
(^liildren  in  the  way  they  should  go,  and  j)robably  he  succeeded 
as  well  as  most  parents  do.  He  endeavored  to  bring  them  up  to 
habits  of  industry,  and  none  of  his  children  acquired  the  habit  of 
iiiteinperate   drinking,   or  of  using  tobacco   to  chew,   smoke    or 


14  CENTENNIAL   GATHERING. 

snuff;  and  sofar  as  I  know  but  few  of  his  grandchildren  have 
acquired  that  habit.  I  think  he  retained  the  respect  and  good 
will  of  his  neighbors  and  acquaintances  to  the  close  of  liis  life. 
He  died  February  12,  1843,  aged  80  years,  0  months,  25  days. 
He  was  undoubtedly  the  last  survivor  of  the  3d  generation  from 
Thomas  Hayward  1st,  his  death  being  153  years,  6  months  after 
the  birth  of  his  father,  and  nearly  208  years  after  the  landing  of 
Thomas  Hayward  with -his  family  at  Plymouth,  his  grandfather, 
Joseph  Hayward,  then  being  a  child  ])robably  2  or  3  years  of  age. 

My  mother's  fatlier,  Ellisha  Barrows,  was  probably  a  descend- 
ant of  Ivobert  Barrows,  who  was  an  early  settler  in  Plymouth, 
Avhere  Elisha  lived  with  his  first  wife,  by  whom  he  had  13  chil- 
dren, 11  of  whom  died  in  infancy;  the  names  of  the  survivors 
were  Patience  and  Deliverance.  Patience  married  a  Bates,  he 
died  and  she  married  Benj.  l^ailey  of  Scituate,  by  Avhom  she  had 
Desire,  Thankful,  Roland,  Patience  and  Elish.a.  Desire  married 
Capt.  Seth  Howard  (son  of  Jesse  Howard  of  West  Biidge water) 
and  went  to  Leeds,  Maine.  His  son,  Roland,  was  father  of  Gen. 
O.  O.  Howard  of  the  U.  S.  army.  Deliverance  married  Nathaniel 
Ruggles  Esq.  of  Rochester.  Their  children  were  Xathaniel, 
Elisha  Barrows,  Thankful,  Timoth}',  Mary,  Thomas  and  Benja- 
min. This  family  were  ix'markable  *for  their  height,  Nathaniel 
and  P^li?ha  B.  were  each  G  ft.  T  in.  and  Timothy  was  6  ft.  10  in. 

P^lisha  Barrows  Esq.  lived  in  Rochester  with  his  2d  wife,  who 
was  Eleanor,  widow  of  Caleb  Lombard,  by  whom  he  had  Lydia, 
Huldah  and  P^lisha.  He  died  November  9,  17(37,  aged  72  years, 
and  was  buried  in  the  cemetery  at  Rochester  Town.  He  lived 
on  the  other  side  of  the  sti'eet  from  the  cemetery  and  kept  a 
tavern  there.  His  widow  married  William  Bassett  for  hei'  tliird 
husband  in  1770,  he  died  in  1701;  she  died  at  P^aston  in  1813, 
aged  00  years.  Her  mai<len  name  was  P^leanor  Eldridge.  Huldah 
mai'ried  Moses  Mendall  of  Rochestei'.  Their  children  were 
Hannah,  [Moses,  Elisha  who  died  young,  Huldah,  Waltei', 
\ViIliam,  Caleb  and  Jonathan,  none  of  whom  are  now  living. 
Elisha  Bai'i'ows  died  in  the  ai'my  in  the  time  of  the  Indian  War; 
lie  left  a  wile,  and  son  William  who  lived  in  Lake  County,  Ohio. 

My  mother  died  .Januarv  II,  1S44,  of  erysipelas,  aged  8'_' 
yeai's,  10  months  and  20  <lays.      I'revious  to  her  last  sickness  she 


CENTENNIAL   GATIIElilNG.  15 

enjoyed  her  corporal  and  mental  faculties  in  an  nnnsual  degree 
for  a  person  of  her  age,  which  enabled  her  to  administer  to  the 
wants  and  conti'ibute  to  the  comfort  of  her  aged  companion  dui- 
ing  the  later  years  of  his  life,  for  several  of  which  he  was  quite 
feeble  and  entirely  blind.  His  death  preceded  hers  by  only 
eleven,  months.  !She  was  a  member  of  the  Congregational 
church  in  Easton  for  57  years,  of  which  church  her  husband  w:ts 
also  a  member;  with  him  she  was  united  in  marriage  62  years. 
Her  descendants  at  the  time  of  her  death  were  14  children,  7 
sons  and  7  daughters,  11  of  whom  lived  to  have  families,  but  7 
only  survived  their  parents;  07  grandchildren,  57  of  whom  were 
expected  to  be  living,  and  about  50  gi-eat  grandchildi'en.  Two 
of  her  children  Avlio  left  families  died  in  their  native  town  and 
two  in  the  state  of  Ohio.  Those  who  survived  their  parents  re- 
sided in  four  different  states  and  her  grandchildren  in  six  states, 
viz:  Massachusetts,  Xew  York,  Ohio,  Illinois,  Michigan  and 
Louisiana;  at  the  present  time,,  her  descendants,  I  know  not  the 
number,  are  ix'sidents  of  17  states  and  territories,  including  the 
above  named  states,  (except  Louisiana),  and  the  additional  states, 
viz:  Xew  LL-mipshire,  Rhode  Island,  Indiana,  Wisconsin,  Minne- 
sota, Iowa,  Missoui-i,  Kansas,  California,  Oregon,  Colorado  and 
Idaho. 

I  think  my  mother  aini)ly  fulfilled  that  passage  of  sci'i])ture, 
which  saith,  "She  looketh  well  to  the  ways  of  her  household,  and 
eateth  not  the  bi-ead  of  idleness."  Father  kejit  sheej)  and  had 
the  wool  mamifactured  into  cloth;  mother  wove  a  piece  of  cloth 
every  yeai-  until  the  last  year  of  her  life. 

.\s  a  singular  coincidence,  it  seems  worthy  of  record  that  IMr. 
and  3Irs.  Hayward  were  the  last  survivors  of  the  children  of 
llieir  ])are]its,  and  that  they  were  also  children  of  the  second 
marriage  of  each  of  tlieir  parents,  who  by  each  of  their  marriages 
had  families  of  children.  Mi-.  Hayward's  father  died  A\hen  he 
was  7  years  old,  aged  70  yeai-s;  ]Mrs.  Hayward's  father  died  when 
slie  was  0  years  old,  at  the  agi'  of  72  years,  each  of  their  mothers 
married  their  third  husbands,  with  whom,  his  mothei-  lived  10 
}c;ii's,  :ni(l  her  mother  2  I  years.  After  the  (h-ath  of  their  tliird 
husbands,  his  mother  lived  a  widow  10  years  and  hei'  mother  21 
yeai's.      They  both   died   at  the   residence  of  Mr.  Hayward:    his 


16  CENTENNIAL  GATHKRING. 

mother  in  1802  aged  85  years  and  her  motlier  in  1813  aged  GO 
years.  They  were  buried  by  the  side  of  each  other  in  a  cemetery 
near  this  place,  and  neither  of  their  husbands  were  buried  near 
them.  In  this  cemetery  there  ar«'  ten  persons  buried  near  each 
other,  no  graves  between,  whose  aggregate  ages  are  904  years, 
viz:  Deacon  Samuel  Pool  and  wife,  aged  94  and  97;  his  son  John 
Pool  Esq.  and  wife,  aged  nearly  95  and  89;  my  grandmothers, 
aged  85  and  90;  my  father  and  mother,  and  Kev.  Silas  IJrett's 
widow  and  her  daughter  Olive,  aged  94  and  87  years.  Deacon 
Pool  and  wife  lived  together  72  years;  Esq.  Pool  and  wife  about 
70  years. 

My  sister  Elizabeth  Smith  married  Cyrus  Howard,  son  of 
Ebenezer  Howard,  and  went  to  Madison,  N.  Y.,  where  his  father 
and  all  his  brothers  and  sisters  went.  Their  children  were  7  sons 
and  2  daughters.  I  expect  that  5  sons  and  1  daughter  are  now 
living;  3  live  in  New  York,  1  in  Michigan  and  2  in  Massachusetts, 
and  some  of  their  grandchildren  in  Iowa  and  California.  She 
died  in  her  83d  year. 

Sister  Lucy  married  ]\Iajor  Noah  Peed  of  this  town.  Their 
childi'en  were  Lucy,  Potheus  Ilayward  and  Lytlia  Howe.  He 
died  in  1817  aged  36;  she  died  in  1819  aged  36  years.  Lucy 
•  married  Deacon  Ebenezer  Drake  of  Stoughton  and  had  4  sons 
and  3  daughters;  only  1  son  and  2  daughters  are  now  living. 
She  died  in  the  70th  year  of  her  age.  Their  daughter  Ilan-iet 
married  Gardner  Petty,  of  Stoughton;  he  died,  and  she  married 
A.  T.  Jones,  editor  of  the  Brockton  Gazette.  Lucy  Avent  a  mis- 
sionary to  the  central  part  of  Hindostan,  about  400  miles  from 
l)ornbay.  Her  health  failed  and  she  returned  in  about  2  yeai-s. 
Hotheus  II.  mai-ried  Rhuhama  Howard,  daughter  of  Alfred 
Howard  of  West  Hridgewater,  by  whom  he  had  two  sons,  one  of 
whom  died  young;  the  other,  Albert  Henry,  has  a  family  and 
lives  in  South  Abington.  His  wife  died  and  he  married  Mercy 
Lewis  of  Plymouth,  and  ha<l  one  son  who  died  young,  and  two 
daughters.  He  lives  where  his  father  lived.  Lydia  Howe  mar- 
ried Abel  (t.  Peck  of  Boston,  in  1834.  She  died  November  2  7, 
1835,  .leaving  a  daughter,  Lydia  Morgiana,  who  married  Dr. 
P^ield  of  Newton. 

Sister  Powena  married  Dr.  Samuel  T.  Anijier  of  Penibrook,  a 


CENTENNIAL   GATIIEKING.  17 

graduate  of  Brown  University,  Providence.  They  lived  in 
Sussex  Co.,  Virginia,  two  or  three  years,  w^here  he  was  a  teacher, 
then  returned  to  Easton,  and  then  went  to  Ohio,  where  he  com- 
menced the  practice  of  a  pliysician  in  Adelpha,  Athens  County, 
at  which  place  she  died  December  9,  1824,  aged  31  years,  6 
months,  leaving  a  daughter,  Mar}'  Rowena,  born  November  17, 
1824.  Dr.  Angier  soon  after  went  to  Texas  as  an  agent  for  Austin, 
Avho  w  as  then  establishing  a  colony  in  Texas,  leaving  his  daughter 
at  her  uncle  Edward's  in  Waterford,  Ohio,  where  she  remained 
until  5  years  old,  when  her  father  took  her  to  Texas  with  him, 
she  remaining  there  until  10  years  of  age,  then  he  took  her  to 
Easton,  where  she  remained,  except  when  at  school,  until  about 
18  years  old,  her  father  providing  for  her  education;  she  then 
went  to  her  father,  he  then  being  with  some  of  his  second  wife's 
relatives  at  Mt.  Pleasant,  Alabama.  She  married  Frederick 
Robertson,  then  a  school  teacher  at  ]Mobile.  They  came  to 
]Massachnsetts,  then  went  to  Texas,  then  to  Louisiana,  then  to 
Morganfield,  Kentucky,  Avhere  he  taught  at  an  academy  for  a 
few  years.  They  had  a  daughter  born  there  December  21,  1844, 
who  is  the  wife  of  William  R.  lieed  of  Quincy,  Illinois.  From 
Kentucky  they  went  to  Galveston,  Texas.  In  the  time  of  the 
Mexican  War  he  went  into  the  army  as  an  interpreter  of  the 
Spanish  language  and  his  wile  and  child  remained  at  her  father's; 
on  his  return  they  went  to  Illinois.  After  being  there  a  few 
years,  l)eing  out  of  health,  she  started  to  go  to  her  father's  and 
got  to  his  house  in  (Jalveston,  where  she  died  the  next  day,  her 
father  then  being  at  Columliia.  Dr.  ^Vngier  had  two  children  by 
his  third  wife,  one  died  young,  the  other,  Eugene,  is  living  at 
Iluntsville,  Texas.  Dr.  .\.ngier  married  his  fourth  Avife,  he  died 
at  Columbia,  Texas,  ^Vpril  17,  1S(j7,  in  the  7oth  year  of  his  age. 

Sister  Sophia  marricMl  Ca|itain  .Jonathan  Pratt,  son  of  Deacon 
Caleb  Pratt.  They  had  (J  sons  and  1  (hiughter.  The  daughter 
and  one  son  died  young.  She  died  December  20,  IN.51,  aged  50 
yeai's,  (j  months,  25  days.  His  second  wife  was  Elizabeth  Wood 
oi'  ]Mid<lleboi-ough.      He  died  December  2o,  1802,  aged  70. 

.lonatliiin  A.  Pratt,  (son  of  Jonathan),  married  Kli/.alK'th 
White,  daughter  of  Aruiiah  White  of  Taunton.  Their  cliildren 
wei'i'-^i  sons  and  4  dauglitei-s;  two  of  the  daiiglitei's  dicMl   young. 


18  CENTENNIAL   GATHERING. 

He  lives  where  his  father  lived.  Snjihia  married  Deacon  Lewis 
^lorse  of  Sharon.  Luthera  married  Eliot  Heath  of  Frybnrs;, 
.^^aine.  Clifford  married  Florence  Hem|)Stead  of  Spring  Prairie, 
Wisconsin.  Slie  died,  leaving  one  daughter.  He  lives  in  Iowa. 
Franklin  m'ai'ried  Anna  Heath  and  lives  in  Taunton.  Martin 
lives  in  the  territory  of  Idaho  and  is  i'm]>loyed  in  herding  cattle. 

Hiram  A.  Pratt,  (son  of  Jonathan),  inairied  Mary  I).  Williams, 
daughter  of  Lewis  Williams  of  Fast  on.  Their  cliihlren  were  one 
son  and  one  daughter;  the  dauglitcr  died  young.  She  died  and 
he  manied  Louisa  i\  Dean,  daughter  of  Charles  Dean  of  P^aston. 
Their  children  are  two  sons  and  one  daughter.  He  lives  in 
Somerville. 

Mai'tin  V.  Pratt,  (son  of  .Tonal han).  lives  at  Evansville,  Wis- 
consin.     He  married  Eva  E.  Holmes  .ind  has  one  daughtei-. 

Shepherd  L.  Pratt,  (son  of  .Tonal  han  ).  married  Iluldah  Tinkham. 
She  died  in  1S77,  leaving  no  children. 

Daniel  H.  l^i-att,  (son  of  .Tonathan).  lives  in  Denver,  Colorado. 
He  man-ied  Sai"ah  E.  Peckham  <•!'  N\'esi  Bridgewater.  She  <lied 
in  ISTo,  leaving  no  children. 

Sister  Lydia  married  .Tames  Tulniaii,  son  of  Captain  Daniel 
Tolman  of  South  Hridgewater;  they  liveil  in  North  Hi-idgewater. 
Their  children  were  Lucretia  Howard.  Lydia  and  .Toseph;  Lydia 
and  .Toseph  died  young.  They  went  to  Kane,  Illinois,  where 
they  had  a  son  born,  who  died  wlien  a  babe.  Slu'  died  in  1  <"^45, 
He  mari'ied  a  second  wife,  by  whom  he  had  a  daughter.  lie 
lived  in  A'erdon,  ^lacoujiLn  Co.,  alter  his  first  wife  died.  Neither 
he  or  his  second  wife  are  living. 

TJrother  TJotheus  went  to  Ohio  in  companv  with  David  Gilmore 
of  Paynham,  in  lN(i.5.  He  workeil  in  a  ship  yard  at  ^Marietta  for 
(4en.  Edw.  Tiip[)er  the  first  season.  lie  then  ]iurchased  a  farm 
in  Wateri"ord,  on  the  .Muskingum  ii\cr,  inime<liately  al)ove  the 
mouth  of  Wolf  creek  ami  on  the  ot  her  side  of  the  river  from 
where  ihe  town  of  Peverly  now  is.  lie  married  Panthea,  daugh- 
tvv  of  Col.  Tehabod  Nye  and  grandd.aughter  of  Col.  Benjamin 
Tupper.  'i'lieir  c-hildren  were  .loseph.  I)enjamin  Tupper,  Potheus, 
Icliabod  Nye  who  died  young,  Lvilia  ]Minerva,  Edward  Nye, 
(leoroe  Barrows.  His  wife  died  and  he  married  Pebecca  (Tray 
of  Waterford,  Mai-ch,  Is-j-j.     Theii' diildi  en  were  Chariot  te  ( irav. 


CEXTKXNIAI.    (iATIIEHING.  19 

Panthea  Nye,  Daniel  "\Vasliiii«;ton,  Columbus  F'rniiklin,  Cyrus 
Byington,  9  sons  and  8  dauulitcis.  He  died  May  22,  1842,  aged 
60  years,  7  months;  liis  wife  died  September  28,  1876,  aged  85 
years.  When  he  first  isettlcd  there  he  lived  in  a  log  house  for  a 
nund)er  of  years,  and  then  built  a  large  brick  house,  which  is 
very  jdeasantly  located  in  f;iir  \  iew  from  the  Muskingum  river, 
the  land  being  of  a  gradual  descent  to  the  I'ivei'.  When  I  Avas 
there  in  1829  I  thought  it  was  one  of  the  best  houses,  and  most 
pleasantly  located  that  I  saw  in  that  country.  Five  sons  and 
one  daughter  are  living.  I>ydia  Minerva  married  Augustus 
Warner  Shaw.  They  had  :!  sons  and  'S  daughters;  1  son  and  1 
daughter  died  young.     Mr.  Shaw  died  in  1851. 

Joseph,  (son  of  Hotheus),  mairied  Mary  Ann  Hart  in  18:?o. 
Children,  3  sons  and  4  daughteis.  He  has  a  farm  on  the  Musk- 
ingum river,  about  2  miles  above  wheie  his  father  lived.  His 
oldest  son,  Charles,  lives  at  Canton,  Ohio,  and  has  a  store  there. 
Arthur  lives  at  South  Bend,  Indiana.  They  are  married  and 
each  have  one  or  more  chihlren.  Xewel  died  a  few  years  since 
at  his  father''s,  leaving  a  wife.    Some  of  the  daughters  are  married. 

Ijenjamin  Tu])per,  (son  of  1  Jot  hens),  had  the  u])per  part  of  his 
father's  farm.  He  never  married,  but  built  a  house  and  his 
sister,  Mrs.  Shaw,  ke])t  house  I'oi-  him  after  her  husband  died  and 
lier  children  lived  with  them.  He  and  his  sistei-  are  not  living. 
Her  sons  own  aiid  liv(!  on  the  farm. 

Ivotheus,  (son  of  Rotheus),  lived  at  Harmer,  on  the  other  side 
of  the  Muskingum  from  Mai'iftta  and  was  foreuian  in  the  foundry 
of  Ansel  Nye  for  many  yeai's,  until  within  a  ycai-  or  two.  He 
now  lives  uj)  the  ^luskingum  about  one  mile.  He  married  Cai-o- 
liue  Wood  of  Daubury,  Coiniect  icut.  Children,  three  daughters; 
one  died  young.  Kllen  lives  with  her  fathei.  ('aroliiu'  W.  mai'- 
ried  (i.  AV.  M<n'ris  and  lives  ;it  Warsaw,  Indiana.  lie  has  a 
farm  there,  hnt  has  rented  ii  and  has  charge  of  a  shoe  store  for 
ArtJiur  Hay  ward. 

Kdward  Nye,  (son  of  IJotlieiiv),  died  wlii'ii  a  young  man, 

(ieorge  Harrows,  (sou  of  IJollieus),  mai'i'ied,  Ijut  he  an<l  his 
wife  (lied,  le;!\iiig  one  son  who  iliecl  xouiig. 

Daniel  W.,  (son  ol'  IJothen-),  li\cs  in  I']ni]iire  City,  Coos  Co., 
Oi-e'i'on;    he  went   fliei'e   in    l^^'n'  .•md  was  one  of   llie    first    settlers 


20  CENTENNIAL   GATHERING. 

in  that  j^lace.  He  has  one  son  aged  17;  liis  wife  died  in  1866; 
he  has  a  farm  near  the  entrance  of  Coos  Bay. 

Colnmbns  F.,  (son  of  Rothens),  is  married  and  has  one  child. 
He  and  liis  sister  Charlotte  l)ave  the  house  and  lower  part  of  the 
farm  tliat  was  his  father's,  ('yrns  B.  has  the  part  adjoining  and 
Charlotte  keeps  house  for  him.     Fantliea  is  not  living. 

Brother  Josepli  married  Esther  Ripley,  daughter  of  Samuel 
Ripley.  Their  children  were  ^Nlinei'va,  Joseph  Eldridge,  P'sther, 
Asenath,  Samuel  Kinsley,  William  Reed,  Lucy,  Geofge  Adon- 
irain.  He  died  February  26,  1822,  aged  37  years,  7  months,  12 
days;  she  died  A])ril  5,  18G0,  aged  75  years,  .5  months.  Minerva 
married  Dr.  John  Oushee  of  Raynham;  slie  died  leaving  no 
children.  Esther  married  Weston  Simmons  of  Norrh  l^ridge- 
water.  Their  children  were  3  sons  and  1  daughter;  one  son  died 
young.  The  other  sons  and  daughter  are  mari'ied  and  live  in 
Brockton.  Asenath  married  Daniel  Sumner  (son  of  Roger 
Sumner)  of  Stoughton.  He  died  and  she  mari'ied  Lewis  Sumner, 
his  brother.  He  died,  leaving  two  daughters,  one  of  whom  mar- 
ried Augustus  Carpenter.  She  died,  leaving  2  children.  Lucy 
married  Nahum  ]\L  Di'ake,  (son  of  Joel  Drake  of  Easton).  He 
died  and  she  married  Tliomas  Howard,  (son  of  Thomas  Howard 
of  Easton).  Their  children  Avcre  Adelia  and  George.  Adelia 
married  William  ]>riggs  and  lives  in  Little  Comjjton,  R.  L 
George  and  his  fatlier  live  there.  Lucy  died  Avlien  her  cliildi-en 
were  young. 

Joseph  P]ldridge,  (son  of  Joseph),  ni;iri-ied  Nancy  T.  Bird, 
daughter  of  Jacob  Bird.  Their  children  were  ^Vlmira  Leach, 
Nancy  and  .Tosejdi.  Nancy  and  .I()se])h  died  young.  She  died 
and  he  married  Eli7.aV)eth  Deans,  widow  of  Sumner  Deans  and 
daughter  of  . I oel  Drake.  She  died,  leaving  a  daughter  Hurriet 
L.  He  married  a  lliir<l  wife,  Sophia  Jenks  of  Pi'ovidence,  R.  L 
Alniira  L.  is  librarian  at  Cambridge,  and  Harriet  tea<'hes  school 
at  that  i)lace.  He  worked  in  a  fui'uace  fur  many  years  and  nou 
lives  at  I'rovidence,  R.  L 

Saiiiiul  Kinsley,  (son  of  Josepli),  niarri('<l  Ann  Maria  Ci-osby. 
Tiieii'  cliildi'en  wci-e  Samuel  Adoniram  and  Nahum  -Mitchell.  He 
leai'iKil  thr  wliiH'lw  right  ti-ade  of  Ansel  Howai'd  at  Taunton, 
lived  ;it  Xortli  ( 'lu'liiisfoi'd  and  worked  in  a  macliiue  shop  several 


CEXTEXXIAL   GATHERI^^a.  21 

years  and  now  lives  where  his  father  lived.  Samuel  A.  married 
Emma  Bruce  of  Brooklyn,  N.  Y.,  and  has  2  daughters.  Nahum 
M.  married  PhebeAnn  Randall,  daughter  of  Cyrus  IJandall, 
and  lives  at  Worcester. 

William  R.,  (son  of  Joseph),  married  ]\Iary  W.  Pratt,  daughter 
of  Daniel  Pratt  of  Peterborough,  X.  H.  He  lived  at  Peter- 
borough several  years  and  now  lives  at  North  Newton,  jNIass. 
Their  children  are  Eva  and  P^ranklin.  Eva  married  Theophilus 
Frye.  Franklin  graduated  at  the  Bridgewater  Normal  School, 
has  since  taught  school  and  is  now  bookkeeping  in  i^oston. 

George  A.,  (son  of  Josei)h),  lives  in  oi-  near  Han-isville,  N.  II. 
He  married  Henrietta  Tarbox  and  has  one  son.  Brother  Ansel 
married  Lucinda,  daughter  of  Capt.  Daniel  Tolman  of  Bridge- 
water.  Their  childi'en  were  Lucinda,  Harriet  Newell,  Ansel, 
Cyrus  1"'olman,  Chloe  Jane  and  Lydia  Loraine,  twins,  (Lydia 
Loraine  died  aged  3  years),  Lydia  Loraine,  Daniel  and  William 
Wirt.  Lucinda  married  Jesse  Packard  of  North  Biidgewater. 
She  died,  leaving  one  child  named  Lucinda,  who  married  Francis 
Fountain.  Harriet  married  Davi<l  Hart  well  of  Groton,  who 
went  to  Ohio,  and  then  to  Illinois,  and  now  lives  near  Wichita, 
Kansas.  His  wife  is  not  living.  He  has  4  children  living,  who 
all  live  near  him. 

Brother  Ansel  learned  the  cabinet  makers'  trade  of  .Alark 
Lothroj)  of  West  liridgewater.  He  worked  several  years  pattei-n 
making  at  Cyrus  Alger's  iron  foundry,  South  Boston,  then  bought 
a  fai'm  in  P^aston.  He  soon  went  to  woi'k  for  Gen.  Shci)lierd 
Leach,  making  patterns,  but  lived  on  his  farm.  He  built  the 
house  where  Rev.  Francis  Homes  now  lives.  In  ls.]s  he  sold 
liis  farm  and  went  with  his  family  to  ]\Iacou})in  Co.,  Illinois.  He 
died  November  30,  lsG3,  aged  74  years,  (J  months,  1:5  days;  his 
wile  <lied  at  her  son's,  William  W.  Hayward's,  Minneapnlis, 
^Minnesota,  Dec-embei-  '-'-'i,  1S77,  in  the  sOth  year  of  liei-  age.  His 
tlaiigliter,  Cliloe  Jane,  married  Charles  (Joodsell.  'I  hey  have  _ 
^oiis  an<l  I  daughtej".  Mr.  (ioodsell  sold  his  lai'tn  in  Illinnis  aljout 
Js5s  and  went  to  .Minnesota  and  located  on  go\ernnient  lan<l  at 
Lake  Ilowaid,  \>')  miles  west  <d'  .Minneapolis.  The  St.  Paul  an<l 
i'*acilic  R.  li.  passes  tliioiigh  Ibiwai'd  and  liie  depot  and  town 
are  on  land  wliicli  he  owned.      He  was  the  liist  settlei'   there  and 


22  CEXTEXXIAL   GATHKiaXG. 

liad  640  acres  of  land.  Tlie  lake  is  about  two  miles  long  and 
one  wide.  The  town  is  named  after  the  lake.  Theii-  children 
all  live  at  Howard.  Lydia  Lorain  married  John  T.  Thnrston, 
She  and  her  husband  died,  leaving  4  children,  all  of  Avhom  are 
jnari'ied.  The  oldest  son,  William,  and  two  daughters,  live  in 
Davis  Co.,  ]Missouri. 

Ansel,  (son  of  Ansel),  married  Mary  N.  Thurston,  January, 
1842;  she  died  in  the  April  following.  He  married  her  sistei', 
Harriet  E.  Tliui-ston,  January,  1848;  she  died,  January,  1844, 
leaving  one  child,  who  died  when  10  years  of  age.  He  married 
Rebecca  Silsbe,  December  10,  1844.  Their  children  were  4  sons. 
He  and  his  thii'd  wife  are  not  living.  The  oldest  son,  IJotheus, 
died  in  the  army.  The  second  son,  Morrillas,  lives  on  ])art  of 
his  father's  farm,  is  mari'ied  and  has  2  children  living.  The  third 
son,  Orville,  lives  in  West  Oakland,  Californin,  is  single,  and 
doing  Avell.     The  fourth  son,  John,  is  farming,  and  not   mairied. 

Cyrus  T.,  (son  of  Ansel),  mari'ied  ]\Jaria  Olmstead,  December 
25,  1840.  Their  children  were  4  sons  and  4  daughters;  2  sons 
died  young.  The  others  are  all  married  and  have  families  of 
children.  The  oldest  son,  Cyrus  W.,  lives  near  Carlinville;  the 
others  live  in  ^Macoupin  Co.  His  wife  died,  July,  1856.  He 
married  a  second  wife  and  had  -^  sons  and  1  daughter,  none  of 
whom  are  married.  He  has  a  farm  in  ^Macoupin  Co.  near  Somer- 
ville,  wliere  he  lives,  and  one  near  Carlinville,  where  his  oldest 
son  lives. 

Daniel,  (son  of  Ansel),  lives  in  Ciirlinvillf,  ]Macou[»in  Co., 
Illinois.  He  married  Sarah  Clark,  February  24,  1858.  Their 
children  are  :5  sons  and  4  daugliters;  one  son  died  young.  I  re- 
ceived a  letter  from  liim,  dated  Jidy  1,  ]s78.  He  wi-ote  that  he 
had  187  acres  of  land  in  the  farm  where  he  now  lives;  that  he 
has  55  acres  of  wheat,  which  is  vei-y  good;  that  the  corn  crop  is 
(juite  i)ooi',  owing  to  the  wet  weather;  and  that  he  has  over  2000 
bushels  of  old  corn  in  the  crib.  He  has  1(50  :)ci-es  of  land  at 
Glcnwood,  the  county  seat  of  Pope  County,  Minnesot:i.  and  525 
aei-es  iicuv  Sioux  l-'alls,  Dacota. 

Willi;im  ^^^,  (son  of  Ansel),  lives  at  Minneapolis.  Minnesota. 
He  has  a  wife  and  -^  sons  li\ing;  one  son  and  a  daughter  died 
vounu'.      He    has   a    store    and    lumber    vard    at     Howard    w  lici'f 


CENTENNIAL   GATHERING.  23 

Charles  Goodscll  lives,  and  Mr.  Gootlsell's  son,  Wallace,  tended 
store  for  him. 

Brother  Elisha  graduated  at  Brown  University,  Providence; 
studied  medicine  Avith  Dr.  Ebenezer  Alden  of  Randolph  and 
settled  in  Rayidiam,  ]\Iass.  He  married  Betsey  Townsend, 
(daughter  of  John  Townsend),  of  Middleborough,  January,  1821. 
Their  children  were  Lurinda  who  died  an  infant,  Elizabeth,  Mary 
Ann,  Lavina  who  died  aged  23  years,  Ilowena,  Elisha  Alden, 
Daniel  Webster,  Mai-tha  Jane.  He  died  March  16,  1866,  aged 
76  years,  8  months,  20  days.  His  wife  is  living,  aged  82  years. 
Elizabeth  married  Lucius  Hayward,  (son  of  Nahum  Hayward), 
of  West  BridgeAvater.  Their  children  were  3  sons  and  5  daugh- 
ters; one  son  and  one  daughter  are  not  living;  one  son  and  three 
daughters  are  married.  Mary  Ann  married  Melvin  Lothrop  of 
Norton.  She  died,  leaving  one  son,  Everet,  who  is  married  and 
has  one  child.  Rowena  married  Joseph  Wilder  White,  of 
Raynham,  June  16,  1863.  They  have  2  sons  living;  one  died 
young.  Martha  Jane  married  George  Edw.  Cobb  of  ^Middle- 
borough.  They  had  one  child  who  died  young  and  they  are 
both  dead.  Elisha  A.  and  Daniel  W.  live  with  their  mother, 
where  their  father  lived. 

Jirother  P^dward  T.  went  to  Ohio  in  company  with  his  uncle 
Solomon  and  family  in  1821.  He  married  Charlotte  Gray,  sister 
to  his  brother  Rotheus'  second  Avife,  in  March,  1822.  He  bought 
a  farm  of  TOO  acres  of  cleared  land  Avith  a  log  house  on  it,  in  the 
bend  of  the  ^Muskinguii)  I'ivcr,  24  miles  abo\e  liis  l)rotlKT"s,  and 
25  acre><  for  a  wood  lot  near  by.  He  lived  in  his  log  liotise  a 
few  years.  Before  1  was  theix'  in  1820  he  had  built  a  good 
bi'ick  house.  Their  children  a\  eie  Ai-ius  K(h\;n'd,  William  (iray, 
Lydia  Howciia  and  Rotheus  Barkly.  He  died  l'\'l)ruai'y  20,  ISoS^ 
aged  oO  \ears,  wanting  2  days.  She  died  in  l.'^G6,  aged  0.")  years. 
Tydia  IJowena  mariied  Thomas  Buck;  she  and  her  husband  died 
and  left  a  son  and  daughter.  Arius  E.  married  ;i  .Murry  in  1S47. 
He  and  his  wife  died  in  I'^ls  and  left  no  child.  William  (i. 
married  Sarah  While  in  \><')'',.  Their  ehildreii  were  3  ilaughters 
and  1  son.  The  son  died  voting.  lie  was  killed  by  a  log  rolling 
on  him  in   1^67,  when  getting  timber  to  build  a  house.      Botheus 


24  CENTENNIAL   GATHERING. 

B.  married  a  Murry  and  has  one  son.  He  is  tlie  only  cliild  of 
Brother  Edward's,  noAV  living. 

Geoi'ge  W.  Hayward,  (who  is  now  addressing  yon),  married 
Sylvia  8.  Pratt,  dfinghter  of  Joshua  Pratt  of  Peterborough,  N, 
H.,  who  was  a  native  of  Easton,  November  27,  1834,  Our 
children  are  Georgiana  Maria,  November  20,  l>8o;  Edw.  Kussel, 
January  17,  1837;  Joseph  Warren,  July  11,  1841.  (aeorgiana 
M.  married  John  Kichard  Hunt,  son  of  Dr.  Hunt  of  Nashua,  N. 
H.  Their  children  are  2  sons,  Charles  Richard  and  George 
Washington.  They  now  live  at  Wollaston  Heights,  Quincy, 
]Mass.  ]\fr.  Hunt  is  employed  in  Boston;  Charles  R.  is  in  the 
Civil  pLngineer's  De])artment,  C'ity  Hall,  Boston;  George  W.  is 
with  Calvin  ]^3Hler,  an  architect  in  l^oston. 

Edward  \l.  married  Carrie  L.  Belcher,  daughter  of  Daniel 
J^elcher  of  Easton.  Their  children  are  3  sons,  Edw.  Belcher, 
Wm.  Warren,  Chester  Lincoln,  and  1  daughter,  Carrie,  who 
died  an  infant.  He  graduated  at  the  Normal  School  at  Bridge- 
water,  taught  school  two  Avinters;  was  in  a  store  at  North 
Easton  about  G  years,  in  com}>any  with  Samuel  Ripley,  when  he 
sold  out  to  him,  and  came  here  and  l>uilt  a  house  in  which  he 
now  lives,  and  has  charge  Of  the  farming. 

Joseph  W.  graduated  at  the  l^ridgewater  Normal  School, 
taught  school  two  winters;  studied  medicine  and  attended  medi- 
cal lectures;  then  went  as  a  medical  cadet,  U.  S.  Army,  for  one 
year;  was  in  a  hospital  at  Memithis,  Tennessee,  most  of  the  time; 
he  then  came  home,  attended  another  course  of  lectures,  got  his 
diploma,  and  after  passing  examination  at  New  \'()rk,  went  as 
assistant  surgeon,  to  the  Army  of  the  James,  wliere  lie  re- 
mained until  after  the  close  of  the  war,  about  1  year,  (J  nuuiths. 
Soon  after  coming  from  the  army,  he  Avent  into  company  with 
Dr.  Geo.  J5an-ows  of  Taunton,  and  was  with  him  about  (5  years. 
He  is  now  a  phvsician  and  surgeon  at  Taunton.  He  inarrit'-l 
Lenura  H.,  daughter  of  John  R.  Drake  of  Easton.  Theii-  childi-en 
are  3  sons  and  1  daughter,  Ernest  Lowell,  Balph  ]\Forris,  Walter 
Bai'rows  and  .I()se])hine  Lemira. 

Our  grandchildren  are  s  grandsons  and  2  granddaughters,  one 
of  whom  died  voung.  I  am  now  71  years  old  and  my  wife  is 
()(!.      I  was  the  vounu'est  of  a  familv  of   14   childi'en  and  niv  wife 


CENTENNIAL    GATIIEKING.  25 

the  youngest  of  a  family  of  10  cliildreii,  and  we  are  the  last  sur- 
vivors of  tlie  families  of  our  parents.  It  is  now  125  years  since 
tlie  birth  of  my  father,  189  years  since  the  birth  of  my  grand- 
father, and  probably  246  years  since  the  birth  of  great  grand- 
father, who  jvas  the  fourth  child  of  Thomas  Ilayward,  who  landed 
at  Plymouth  with  his  wife  and  5  children  in  1635.  I  have  but 
one  cousin  living,  who  is  Solomon  Ilayward  of  Gallii)olis,  Ohio, 
he  being  87  years  old  this  month.  No  doubt  we  are  the  last 
survivors  of  the  fourth  generation  from  Thomas  Ilayward  1st. 

I  will  now  close  by  giving  a  few  words  of  advice  to  my  grand- 
children and  other  young  persons  wlio  may  be  ])resent.  .Vssociate 
not  with  l)ad  company,  be  ind.ustrious,  be  temperate  in  all  things, 
abstain  entirely  from  all  ])rofanity  and  from  the  use  of  tobacco, 
and  endeavor  to  follow  tlie  Golden  Ivule,  "Do  unto  others  as  yon 
would  that  others  should  do  unto  you." 

]Miss  Harriet  L.  Ilayward  of  Providence,  P.  I.,  then  read  tlu' 
following  poem,  written  for  the  occasion  by  her  sister,  ]Miss  A.  L. 
Havward. 


HOME. 

1778-1878. 


Backward  turn  your  eyes  to-day, 

O'er  the  rugged  winding  way 
Whicli  our  fathers  bravely  trod, 

Led  by  faith,  and  helped  by  God. 
As  the  artist  singles  out 

One  chief  point,  to  group  about 
All  the  details  of  his  view, 

So  to-day  I  sketch  for  you 
Here  a  cloud,  and  there  a  flower. 

While  I  make  the  picture's  power 
Center  in  this  dear  old  home 

To  whose  welcome  we  have  come. 
Laden  with  the  hopes  and  fears 

Of  these  full  one  liundred  years. 

Turn  with  me  to  History's  page. 

Read  of  our  heroic  age. 
When  our  fathers  gladly  paid 

Even  life  itself  to  aid 
Liberty  to  conquests  new. 

E'er  to  God  and  Freedom  true. 
When  the  year  of  '78 

Dawned  upon  them,  still  the  fate 
Of  their  righteous  cause  was  known 

Only  to  the  God  whose  own 
Constant,  guiding  hand  we  bless. 

For  their  hardly-won  success. 
"  Valley  Forge!"  that  name  recalls 

All  they  suffered,  ere  the  walls 
Of  this  home  beloved  were  reared. 

Dear  old  home,  to  us  endcsared 
I5y  tiiesc!  full  one  hundred  years! 


28  CENTENNIAL    GATHERING. 

Slowly  they  built  it 

That  summer  long  past. 
Heavy  stout  timbers 

Were  chosen  to  last. 
Chimney  and  hearih-stone 

Were  ample  and  wide. 
Safe  in  whosf^  corner 

Tiie  children  could  hide 
Often  at  evening 

When  stories  were  told. 
Over  the  cider, 

Of  perils  of  old, 
Met  with  in  forest, 

In  fortress,  or  field. 
What  wonderful  prowess 

Here  was  revealed  ! 

With  its  face  to  the  south, 

A  sunny  home  new, 
At  last  it  was  finished, 

And  still  .stands  for  you, 
The  youngest  of  seven 

Stalwart  sons  of  the  sire, 
To  whom  it  was  given 

Soon  to  see  the  desire 
Of  all  hearts,  the  release 

Of  our  land  from  grim  war, 
"And  the  coming  of  peace. 

As  it  dawned  from  afar 
One  bundled  years  ago. 

The  plan  of  the  house 

You  have  heard  of  in  prose. 
Its  changes  and  history 
I  But  one  of  us  knows, 

Yet  man}'  remember 

Its  bountiful  cheer, 
And  hold  all  its  memories 

Never  more  dear. 
Its  cool  nooks  in  summer, 

In  winter  its  tires. 
And  always  the  attic, 

Where  sliades  of  our  sires 
Seemed  liaunling  the  relics 

Tliere  hidden  awav- 


CENTENNIAL   GATHERING.  29 

Where  often  in  childhood 

We  climbed  there  to  play, 
The  loom  and  the  spinning-wheel 

Mysteries  were, 
Ah!  still  we  remember 

That  curious  w-h-i-r. 
Its  cool,  roomy  pantries. 

Well  filled  to  this. day 
With  good  things  unrivalled, 

I'm  sure  you  will  say. 
How  well  we  approved  them 

When,  hungry  from  school, 
We  called  out  for  "Luncheon!" 

How  sparkling  and  cool 
From  "the  old  oaken  bucket 

That  hung  in  the  well," 
Came  the  di'ink  that  was  better 

Than  "  Port"  or  "Moselle." 
It  needed  no  ice. 

Nor  "  a  stick  "  to  ]nit  in  it. 
And  better  than  all. 

It  was  fresh  every  minute. 

Just  think  of  the  many 

AVho  here  at  the  brink 
Of  the  old  well  have  waited 

Their  turn  for  a  drink! 
"The  butchers  and  bakers. 

The  candle-stick  makers," 
The  doctors,  and  parsons, 

And  hosts' of  tin-peddlers; — 
Indeed,  if  the  old  stone 

Beside  it  could  sjieak. 
And  tell  all  the  number, 

]\Iethinks  ftn'  ti  week 
We  should  listen  in  wonder 

To  name  after  name. 
Some,  long  since  forgotten. 

Some,  well-known  lo  fame. 

Life  was  simpler,  tiie  old  folks  say, 

One  hundred  years  ago, 
Foi-  wliat  they  Ifoughl,  llicy  liad  lo  pay, 

One  hundi'ed  yeai's  ago. 


30  CENTENNIAL   GATPIKKING. 

Land  whs  plenty,  but  roads  were  few. 

One  hundred  years  ago, 
Here,  a  wonder,  was  a  chaise  quite  new. 

One  hundred  years  ago. 
I  cannot  say  if  this  same  shay, 
Smashed  in  a  minute,  with  the  parson  in  it. 
But  it  did  good  service,  and  was  succeeded 

Some  sixty  years  ago. 
By  such  anotlier,  tlie  grandchildren  needed 

Some  twenty  years  ago. 
Both  school  and  churcii  were  miles  away. 

One  hundred  years  ago. 
But  strictly  kept  they  the  Sabbath  day. 

One  hundred  years  ago 
"From  set  of  sun,  to  set  of  sun," 

One  hundred  years  ago. 
Work  unneeded  was  never  done. 

One  hundred  years  ago. 
Ere  the  da\'  of  the  elegant  shay. 

One  hundred  years  ago, 
Four  rode  on  one  horse  all  the  waj', 

One  hundred  years  ago, 
To  the  humble  church  which  stood  beside 
The  old  graveyard;  for  alas  J  they  died 

One  hundred  j'ears  ago. 
And  then,  as  now,  hearts  cried  in  vain, 
"Spare  our  loved  ones  from  death  and  pain!" 
And  learned  to  say  "  Lord,  even  so," 

One  hundred  years  ago. 

Ah  me!  wliat  changes  came  in  time! 

Some  that  I  cannot  put  in  rh}me. 
Seven  sons  and  daughters  seven 

Entered  this  home,  and  thence  to  Heaven. 
One  an  infant  Avas  taken  soon; 

Two  were  summoned  ere  life's  bright  noon. 
The  others  lingered  here  in  the  iiome 

Till  called  by  Love  far  hence  to  roam. 
Four  to  the  then  far  West  went  out. 

Whose  children's  children,  all,  no  doubt. 
Keeping  with  us  this  festal  day. 

Love  the  old  home  so  far  away. 
Two  of  the  daughters  settled  near, 

Tlieir  children's  grandcliildren  now  are  here. 


CENTP]NNIAL   GATHERING.  81 

Wooed  to  the  Old  Dominion  one, 

Tliere  in  the  South  her  work  was  done. 
Anotlier,  bearing  his  father's  name, 

Dwelt  near  b}'  liim,  but  earl}'  came 
Down  to  the  river  of  death,  and  left 

Widow  and  fatherless  ones  bereft. 
Another  the  art  of  healing  knew, 

The  beioved  physician  of  not  a  few. 
Stories  we  heard  in  our  childish  dajs 

Of  all  their  different  words  and  ways. 
That  all  the  sons  were  taller  far  , 

Than  any  of  this  generation  are; 
Tiiat  some  were  wondrous  strong  as  well. 

You  doubtless  all  have  heard  them  tell. 
How  in  the  time  of  witches,  and  crimes. 

And  magical  powers,  some  father  of  ours, 
Out  with  his  gun  one  autumn  day, 

Shot  at  a  partridge,  who,  strange  to  say. 
Quite  undisturbed  looked  calmly  down. 

He  tired  again,  then  cried  with  a  frown, 
"Tlie  bird  is  bewitched,  but  silver  '11  tix  her." 

Sleeve  buttons  for  shot,  he  used  right  quick,  sir, 
And  the  headless  bird  took  home  for  dinner. 

His  friglitened  cook  eried,  "  What  a  sin,  sir, 
To  dress  the  bird  or  dare  to  eat  it  I" 

That's  all  I  heard,  you  can  complete  it. 

Another  tradition, 
Kuns  something  like  this: — 
So  certain  a  marksman 
He  seldom  would  miss 
Wliatever  he  aimed  at, 
Your  father  once  spied 
Sitting  side  by  side, 
A  flock  of  wild  ducks 
Seven  in  all,  in  a  ditch. 
With  wild  hopes  inspired 
1I(!  aimed,  and  he  tired,- — 
Don't  call  him  a  witch — 
Hut  h(!  killed  the  whole  ticjckl 
After  this,  to  the  boys 
He  often  would  say, 
"  You  couldn't  do  that. 
Hut  /  did  it  on(!  day." 


32  CENTENIv^IAL   GATHERING. 

You  cannot  conceive  it, 
And  you  don't  believe  it? 
Well,  I  was  not  there, 
But  the  story  seems  fair 
As  many  another. 
I've  heard  that  his  mother 
Believe  it,  or  not, 
Once  killed  at  one  shot 
Ninety  pigeons.     She  knew 
What  a  woman  could  do. 

Another  short  story 
I  think  I'll  tell, 
The  third  generation 
ilay  know  it  well. 
I  heard  it  first 
On  mj'  father's  knee, 
I  leave  3'ou  to  guess 
If  .Joseph  was  he. 

Joseph  had  a  little  .squirrel 

Whose  fur  I  think,  was  gray. 

And  everywhere  that  .Joseph  went 
The  squirrel  loved  to  stay. 

He  carried  him  to  school  one  day, 
Which  was  against  the  rule, 

It  made  the  children  laugh,  and  play, 
A  squirrel,  come  to  school! 

And  so  the  teacher  frowning  said, 
".Joseph,  I  am  surprised  I 

What  imp  of  mischief  was  your  guide 
When  you  this  trick  devised? 

Now  take  him  home  and  never  bring 
Again  to  school  your  pet. 

Or  you  another  tune  will  sing, 
Now  go,  and  don't  foi'gel." 

So  in  his  jacket  .Joseph  liid 

All  but  tlie  s(juirre]"s  liead, 

And  trudged  off  home  as  he  \va~;  bid; 
Ask  him.  what  mother  >aid. 


CENTENNIAL    GATIIEKING.  33 

"  What  makes  the  squirrel  love  him  soV" 

The  eager  children  cried. 
"  Wliy,  Joseph  loves  him  too  you  know," 

The  teacher  then  replied. 

Other  legends  I  might  recall, 

But  time  forbids  you  should  hear  them  all. 
You,  by  the  hearthstone  some  winter  eve, 

Can  tell  to  the  children  the  manj-  I  leave. 
Hand  down  his  virtues  in  deeds  manifold 

Who  long  ago  built  here  this  homestead  of  old. 
Each  generation  shall  cherish  his  name, 

Hold  and  preserve  it  from  whisper  of  blame. 
Last  and  not  least  of  his  namesakes  is  seen, 

A  fair  little  daughter  they  call  Josephine. 

Do  you  know  our  little  queen, 
Gentlest  ruler  ever  seenV 
Yes,  you  guess  that  I  must  mean 
Winning  little  Josephine. 

Eartii  has  need  of  such  as  she. 
Youngest  of  the  family, 
Angels  guard  her  tenderly, 

Piir(,'  and  loving  Josephine. 

Dainty  little  tlower  of  May 
Blossoming  beside  our  way. 
Making  life  a  summer's  day, 
Faiiy  little  Josephine. 

(Jther  (lowers,  fresh  and  fair. 
Other  spirits,  sweet  and  rare. 
Blossom  now  in  purer  air; 

Slay  ami  uiess  us,  Jcjscphiiv.'. 

You  all  would  regret 

If  I  should  forget 
These  dear  old  wild  woods. 

These  whispering  i)ines, 
Through  whose  deejx'st  shadows 

The  sun  seldom  shines. 
Loved  liiiunts  of  our  childhood 

Where  hour  after  hour 
Fond  lov(,'rs  could  i)aee, 


34  CENTENNIAL   GATHERING. 


Forgetting  all  else  in 
The  light  of  one  face. 

Ah,  well  you  remember 
The  charms  of  the  place. 

How  storm-winds  have  felled  them, 
The  giant  old  trees, 

How  gently  they  sighed  to 
The  soft  evening  breeze. 

How  sweetly  around  them 
The  wild  flowers  bloom. 

How  coal-pits  were  fashioned, 
How  rich  Iheir  perfume. 

All  this  you  remember 
Who  grew  as  they  grew, 

And  need  no  reminder 
To  bring  back  to  you 

The  scenes  of  your  boyhood. 
Grown  dearer  to-day, 

Because  those  who  .shared  them 
Are  passing  away. 

The  home  where  your  love  and  your  hopes  have  been  centered, 
Again  and  again  hath  the  de.ith  angel  entered, 

The  young,  and  the  old  too,  have  answered  his  call, 
And  sooner,  or  later,  he  comes  for  us  all. 

As  calmlj'  as  he  whom  we  claim  as  our  kin, 

Let  us  welcome  the  moment  when  death  shall  come  in. 

We  mourn  him  dead, 
Who  well  hatii  said, — 

"So  live  that  when  thy  summons  come  to  join 

The  innumerable  caravan  that  moves 
To  the  pale  realms  of  shade,  where  each  shall  take 

His  chamber  in  the  silent  halls  of  deatii, 
Tiiou  go  not  like  the  quarry  slave  at  niglit 

Scourged  to  his  dungeon,  but  sustained  and  soothed 
By  an  unfaltering  trust,  approach  thy  grave 

Like  one  who  wraps  the  drapery  of  his  couch 
About  iiim,  and  lies  down  to  pleasant  dreams". 

A  home  not  built  by  human  hand, 

Awaits  you  in  that  better  land 
Where  joy  and  peace  for  aye  endure, 

Where  rest,  eternal  rest,  is  sure. 


CENTENNIAL   GATHERING.  35 

Some  day  this  eartlily  home,  to  you 

Who  do  God's  will  with  service  true, 
Shall  seem  the  gateway  whence  you  passed 

Into  your  Father's  house  at  last, 
Keeping  the  joys,  but  not  the  tears, 

Of  these  changeful  one  hundred  years. 


Interesting  remarks  followed  by  Rev.  Dr.  Blake,  of  Taunton, 
on  the  progress  of  education  during  the  century;  by  Rev.  Wm. 
L.  Chaffin,  of  North  Easton,  on  social  and  religious  progress;  and 
by  Mr.  James  Rankin  of  Easton  on  the  progress  of  agriculture 
during  the  same  time. 

The  President  of  tlie  day,  Rev.  Luther  H.  Sheldon,  of  Easton, 
closed  the  ])ublic  exercises  in  a  few  happy  remarks. 


'    ■S- 


7^ 
71 


Him 


